Confronting Neo-Nazis in Chicago
5 min read
Dear MRR,
I’m writing to you concerning the Chicago
scene report submitted in the October issue. On
the whole, Val, the woman who wrote it, did a
decent job, but there are some very significant
things she failed to mention which need to be
said and/or at least clarified. I’ve been involved
with the Chicago scene now for roughly 5 or so
years, and I know I couldn’t possibly give a
completely accurate scene report, simply
because there is so much going on. Our scene
has practically tripled in size in the last two
years. However, I can’t see why Val tried to be
so ambiguous in her report, especially when
she mentioned the show which was cancelled.
She openly admitted not attending many gigs,
so this might be the reason for lack of details.
She wasn't even at the show I'm talking about.
What I'm trying to say is that if she wants to do a
report, or anyone for that matter - anywhere - I
feel it’s only fair to give an honest report, even if
it might make the scene you're reporting on look
a little tarnished. Well, let me just explain.
In her report, Val mentions a show at the
Wellington Church on July 19th and vaguely
goes on to something about the "Thunderdome
theory", which, because of vagueness, I have to
assume is the answer to some sort of problem,
although she never actually admits one exists. I
found this a bit confusing, and I know what
happened at the church, so I can imagine how
perplexed others were. Anyway, the show in
question was held at the church and was a
benefit for INFACT, an anti-nuclear organization
that a number of punks do volunteer work for.
The show didn’t go on because of a confron-
tation between a neo-nazi organization called
Romantic Violence and members of the scene
who opposed them. The show was shut down
because the confrontation led to violence and
the people who run the church didn’t want it to
carry over inside. Previous to this show,
Romantic Violence had tried to disrupt other
gigs and had been (and still is) using various
tactics to find support within the scene and out.
Their numbers are still quite small, but they
have managed to do a lot of damage in terms of
harassing people and even physically injuring
those they see as threats. The show's demise
was a result of a lot of personal and politaical
differences coming to an inevitable boil.
It's unfortunate that things led to violence,
but to say, as Val did, that both sides should
fight it out to the death, the Thunderdome
theory, so it won't affect anybody else, is
"stoopid". She fails to realize that "it" has al-
ready affected everybody else and will continue
to do so until groups like Romantic Violence are
gone forever. Racism, hate and violence, like it
or not, are a part of our world and are very
serious subjects. The people who are trying to
counter what groups like Romantic Violence are
pushing realize this and are not in need of
criticism; they need help. People like you, Val,
on the other hand, who are content with just
sitting on their asses and acting as if the
problems don’t exist, are the ones who deserve
the criticism. Why don’t you take a long hard
look in the mirror and maybe you'll see a real
problem?
In addition to this, which Val will probably
omit if she does another report next month, was
yet another violent confrontation between both
sides. Last weekend, the John Brown Anti Klan
Committee organized what was supposed to be
a "Stamp Out Racist Grafitti” campaign. This
would have involved the removal of a lot of
Romantic Violence's handiwork (among others),
and would have been a very visible stand
against them and similar organizations.
Unfortunately, at the point we were all
supposed to meet, members of the KKK, the
American Nazi Party, and Romantic Violence
decided to stage a demonstration. All of the
above organizations have been seen recently
at anti-apartheid protests out in front of the
South African consulate, where they showed
their support for the white supremist govern-
ment. Anyway, things started out on a rather
peaceful note as both sides just exchanged
insults and slogans. Then, at one point, we
were able to surround the Nazis, etc., and
scream loudly enough that they could barely
hear each other. This led to both sides
grabbing at each other's banners and placards
and attempts by the Nazis to antagonize us into
attacking them, which eventually worked. As
one person would be taunted into going after
one, he or she was jumped by ail of them.
Eventually, we stopped giving in to them, which
meet a response of shields and flagpoles being
thrown at us. Then things erupted into quite a
melee, and three of us had to be taken to the
hospital for minor injuries and one or two of the
Nazis were bleeding pretty badly. The police
did show up just as the Nazis were planning
retaliation with weapons. No one was arrested
and the cops escorted the racists away from the
area.
Only one news team covered the incident,
and although it was the top story, they gave one
the impression of both sides being crazy or
wrong. It seemed to reflect the overall attitudes
of people not willing to take sides or commit
themselves. Personally, the whole thing only
served to reinforce my own beliefs. It probably
shocked the shit out of others who didn't expect
matters to go as far as they did, or never really
took the Klan or the Nazis very seriously. That
Saturday brought it all home and shook us all
up. I don't know where things will go from here,
but I hope everyone realizes how serious these
people are and how far they’re willing to take
things. They aren't a joke and they certainly
shouldn’t be ignored.
At a NAKED RAYGUN gig on the day
before Labor Day, some of us helped the JBA-
KC distribute a flyer I drafted up, explaining the
goals and exploits of Romantic Violence, where
they fit in as far as the growing trend toward
racism, as well as a warning to others concern-
ing the way that they've been trying to win
people to their side.
There are a few other things which have
changed/developed since last issue, including
the opening of two halls and the closing of the
Kaleidoscope Club. The halls will be a definitive
plus for the scene, but there is still a question of
what type of music will be allowed. Of course, I
mean both places may refuse to do hardcore
gigs. We'll have to wait and see. Finally, Russ
Forster is attempting to revive Positive Force, so
those interested can write him at 2715 N.
Bosworth/ Chicago, IL, 60614.
Yours in struggle, John Jankowski
